That racism exists within a large layer of policing in the United States goes without saying. The recent arrest and subsequent killing of George Floyd should indeed result in the prosecution of those involved. That racism remains endemic in wider American society is also a fact that I would not question. Racism exists in every society and has done so throughout history.
That Black Lives Matter have a genuine point to make is clear. The next step is how these problems should be dealt with. In America the protests really got out of hand with looting and the subsequent murder of a former black policeman by rioters. of course the majority of those who protest both in the USA and here do not use such violence.
However there are those amongst them who will and those whose political agendas do try to hijack legitimate concerns. The recent toppling of the statue in Bristol has opened a Pandoras Box of problems that will not easily be resolved.
It's not the particular statue that is the problem but the method by which it was removed. The unidentified group of activists who took it upon themselves acted not just outside the law but in a way that has begun a backlash against the movements legitimate concerns.
Indeed discussions about statues have moved into areas that will simply fuel division.
Ghandi is a hero of the Indian community but had anti-black attitudes that were common in his time. Churchill the ultimate British icon has a flawed history but without him where would be today. The best response to his critics is to remind them to look at the other guy.
Most figures both in history have flaws. Few are without sin.
Examine George Floyd the death of whom has caused the current controversy. This man was indeed a career criminal who once held a gun to the stomach of a pregnant Hispanic woman. Hardly a role model though the way he was killed was equally unacceptable.
On the other side so-called "patriots" rallied to the defence of Churchill. What he would have made of these fools using Nazi salutes probably result in the use of two fingers more in the Agincourt style.
Of course we are living in a period where extremism is once again rotting our political system.
TV executives react with fear of being demonised by censoring programmes as a result of these protests. A process seen in the way the Universities caved in to the demands of the ever offended woke. Trans-activists censored women for demanding their sex-based rights. JK Rowling amongst those told to "suck their lady dicks". Appalling. Yet the woke extremists ignore such extreme misogyny.
Whether it be the ranks of the Socialist Workers Party, Momentum, the EDL or Britain First. The extremists hijack the political agenda and make rational political discourse impossible. And finally in case if you are wondering whether the photo at the top of this page is photo-shopped it isn't. This was the meeting of the American Nazi Party with The black nationalist Nation of Islam, the latter still exists spreading poisonous hate even to this day.
Go to:
nationalpost.com
Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.
